Collapsible crate



J. F. WOLANIN I \COLLAPSIBLE CRATE Fild April 2a 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HF 7' 1 r F 1 lb l T 4/4 1 A f Ii: /9 M I/ A 4' 4].. I. F

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J. F. WOLANIN comrsxana CRATE Filed April 2 1925 2-Sheets-Sheet 2 Fl L37 1 -l "L J;

folded or collapsed so provision of 5 placed either when the Patented July 13, 1926.

JOSEPH F. WOLAN IN, OF NORTH DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Application filed April 28, 1925.

This invention relates to shipping crates especially adapted for poultry and has for an object the provision of a crate of this characterwhich may be easily and quickly as to occupy a min in storage or shipmum amount of space and easily set up ment, and may be quickly for use.

" Another object of the invention is the 10 provision of a crate of this character which when folded or collapsed will be securely held in such position and when set up or ex tended will have its walls so associated as to provide a strong crate structure in which relative accidental movement of the walls will be prevented, so that the crates'may be packed one upon the other without danger of collapsing.

A further object of the invention is the a poultry crate which may be conveniently kept in a sanitary condition, means being provided to permit of the removal of the bottom of the crate so that the latter may be thoroughly cleaned and recrate is in use, or when it is empty.

A still further object of the invention 1S the provision of a crate of this character which is simple and durable in construction and which is provided with convenient means for placing fowls therein or removing them from the crate. V

With the above andother objects in view, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction, to

be hereinafter more fully described, illus-' trated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings v Figure 1 is a top .plan view of a crate constructed' in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of' Figure 1 showing the end walls and the partition wall partly collapsed.

Figure 4 is an end view with the walls folded and the side walls partly lapsed. v I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the means for hold- .ng the crate folded.

' Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentarysec- 1ional view taken substantially on the line end col- -=6 of'Figure 1.

receive a bottom panel 19.

to the oppositeends of the Serial No. 26,493.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the crate as shown comprises a bottom 10, a top 11, side walls 12 and end walls 13, while a transversely arranged partition wall 14 is preferably located between the end walls 18.

The bottom of the crate is of novel construction and comprises spaced pairs of transversely arranged bars spaced apart and which are connected by longitudinally disposed end bars 17. A frame is thus provided which includes transversely disposed slots 18 which slidingly This panel is preferably formed of sheet metal and forms the bottom of the crate and is capable of being withdrawn for the purpose of cleaning the crate, after which it may be replaced. The bottom panel 19 may be withdrawn or r placed from either end of the crate and for convenience, the spaced end bars 16 are provided with finger notches 20. Pivotally mounted, preferably spring actuated fingers 21 are provided at each end of the crate. These fingers are adapted to extend across the slots 18 and across the ends of the" panel 19 to hold the latter in position, as illustrated in Figures 3 and at of the drawings. These fingers are provided with right angularly disposed extremities 22 which are adapted to engage the upper faces of the bars 16 so as to limit pivotal movement of direction.

The end walls 13 are hingedly connected frame or bottom 10 as shown at 23 so that these end walls may fold inwardly upon the frame and are spaced sufiiciently above the bottom panel 19 so that droppings or other matter upon this panel will not interfere with the proper folding of the walls 13. The partition wall 15 is likewise hingedly sepivotally connected to the partition wall 15 and its opposite end connected to toggle links 27 and one of these toggle links is pivotally connected to the frame of the bottom 10 as shown at 28 while the other toggle link is pivotally connected to the upperedge of the other end walls 13. By reason of thi link connection, th end. walls .3

16 which are the fingers in one will ilold inwardly toward one another when either end wall manually pushed inward, while a downward tolding movement will also be in'iparted to the partition wall so that this wall and the end walls 13 will lie flat upon the frame of the bottom of the crate.

The side walls 12 are hingedly secured to the opposite side edges of tie bottom 10 as shown at while the upper edges of these side walls are free and are adapted to engage beneath the opposite side edges of the top 11. Spaced links have one of their ends pivot-ally secured to the side walls 12 as shown at Si while, the other ends of these links are pivotally secured along the opposite side edges of the top 11 as shown at Thus, the side walls 12 may be tolded inwardly upon the folded end walls as indicated in Figure l of the drawings. This inward folding of the side will cause the top ll to lie fiat upon said side walls. In this position, a spring actuated latch bar 33 which is carried by the frame of the bottom 10, will engage an apertured keeper plate 3% which extends downwardly from the top 11. The crate will thus be securely held in folded position, but may be quickly released by manipulating the latch bar through the medium ot an op erating linger 35 which extends from said bar. As soon as the latch bar is released, an upward pull upon the top 11 ot the crate will move the side walls 12 upwardly and outwardly into proper position beneath the top wall, whereupon pressure of the side walls and top will be relieved from the end walls and the latter will swing upward into position due to the hinges 2 3, which are of the spring type.

Extending trom the upper edge oi each of the end walls 13 is an outwardly disposed stud 36 and these studs are adapted to enter elongated openings 2)? which are provided in substantially L-shaped plates 38. These plates are carried at. the opposite ends of the top l and extend downwardly, over the upper edge of the end walls 13 and when engaged by the studs 36 will provide a connection between the top and the end walls which will resist any tendency of the crate to collapse accidentally.

The top 11 includes a sectional bar 11 the sections ot which are connected by spring hinges 39, so that the outer sections ll oi this bar form hinged closure bars for normally closing openings in the top for the passage of the contents of the crate. The outer ends of the sections 11 of the bar 11 are received within seats provided between spaced flanges it) which extend upwardly from the top. If desired,

suitable means may be provided for holdmg the sections 11" aga nst opening. Stutable means may be also provided for locking the studs 3b in engagement with the plates 23%;. l? or example, pins (not shown) cxteudi through openings provided in the studs, ma be employed, the pins of course being removable.

The invention is susceptible oi various changes in its form, proportions and minor details ot contruction and the right is herein reserved to malte such changes as properly tall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is l. A collapsible crate comprising; a bottom, top. side and end walls, means hingedly connecting the end walls at opposite ends of the bottom to permit said end walls to fold inwardly upon the bottom, means associat' ing the end walls to provide simultaneous p votal movement of said walls in opposite directions, means hingedly connecting the lower edges of the side walls to the bottom to permit the side walls to told inwardly upon the end walls, means associating the side walls and top to provide inward pivotal movement oi? the side walls when the top is depressed and means to hold the walls against lateral movement to stitlen the crate when the end walls are in set up position.

2. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom, top, side and end walls, means hinpgedly connecting the end walls at opposite ends of the bottom to permit said end walls to fold inwardly upon the bottom, means associating the end walls to provide sin'mltaneous pivotal movement of said walls in opposite directions, means hingedly connecting' the lower edges of the side walls to the bottom side walls to told inwardly to permit the upon the end walls, spaced links haviirc one ot their ends pivotally secured to the side walls at points spaced from the top of the latter and their other ends pivotally secured to the top to provide inward pivotal. move ment oi the side walls when the top is (.e pressed and reverse pivotal movement when the top is raised and JGtlllS to hold the walls against lateral lllOYGlllGllt to sti'ten the crate when the end walls are in set up position.

3. A collapsible crate comprisinge bot tom, top, side and end walls, means hingedly connecting the end walls at opposite ends of the bottom to permit said end walls to fold inwardly upon the bottom, means associating the end walls to provide simultaneous pivotal movement of said walls in opposite directions, kmeans hingedly connecting the lower edges of the side walls to the bot tom to permit the sidewalls to fold inwardly uponthe end walls, means associating the side walls and top to provide inward pivotal movement of the side walls when the top is depressed, means to hold the walls" against lateral movement to stitienithecrate pivotal movement when the end walls are in set up position and means to lock the crate in folded posi tion. 7

A collapsible crate comprising a bot tom, top, side and end walls, means hingedly connecting the end walls at opposite ends of the bottom to permit said end walls to fold bottom, means associatn'iwardly upon the ing the end walls to provide simultaneous of said walls in opposite dir ctions, means hingedly connecting the lower edges of the side walls to the bottom to permitthe side walls to fold inwardly upon the end walls, means associating the side walls and top to provide inward pivotal movement of the side walls when the top is depressed, means to hold the walls against lateral movement to stiffen the crate when the end walls are in set up position and a spring latch mounted upon the bottom and engaging a keeper carried by the top to hold the crate in folded position.

the bottom to permit said end walls to fold inwardly upon the bottom, means associating' the end walls to provide simultaneous pivotal movement of said walls in opposite directions, means hingedly connecting the lower edges of: the side Walls to the bottom to permit the side walls to fold inwardly upon the end walls, means associating" the side walls and top to provide inward pivotal niiovement oi the side walls when the top is depressed, studs extending from the end walls and downwardly extending substantially L-shaped apertured plates carried by the top and engaged by the studs to hold the walls against lateral movement to stiffen the crate when the end walls are in set up position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

JOSEPH F. TV OLAN IN ski) 

